In order to meet the increasing demand for a highly-skilled aero/space workforce, the NC Space Grant / J. Donald Cline Astronomy Scholarship was established in 2007 to provide two year support for an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in the astronomical or related sciences at a North Carolina Space Grant member university. Examples of related degrees include programs that study, but are not limited to, optical and radio astronomy, instrumentation engineering, robotics, data imaging and visualization. The scholarship will also give the student an opportunity to engage in hands-on research at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) in western North Carolina.

The current Donald Cline Astronomy Scholarship recipient is Justin Ritchie. More information and photos can be seen here.